After a very promising start to the year, with Mackerel being caught as early as February, I am very surprised that we are struggling to see any being landed locally. It is not just a local problem, as there seems to be a lack of Mackerel everywhere. Thinking back, we had the same problem last year. Perhaps I am just being impatient and the Mackerel are just arriving later each year.

I had my young nephew Charlie, staying with me this weekend. I had promised to take him fishing for the first time. Armed with my Fladen Rock Buddy LRF rod and a packet of Verms, we headed to Ferrybridge. A quick cast near the bridge pillars, soon found the fish. Charlie almost had the rod pulled from his hands, when it was taken by a 3 1/2lb Wrasse. Not bad for his first ever fish. I can safely say, that’s another youngster well and truly hooked.

Stu Holden sent in this report from his trip at the weekend. Fished Abbotsbury yesterday from 4pm to 11pm and had a couple of Hounds, plenty of Dogfish and 2 Undulate Rays, one of 9lb 2oz and this one pictured at 11lb 7oz and a PB Ray for me. Mackerel and Squid cocktails did the business and they both came in consecutive casts Best regards, Stuart Holden, Gillingham, Dorset. Three counties SAA.

I am desperate to get my first Smoothound this year. So far I haven’t tried for one, as when I have had time between filming and guiding, I have not been able to get hold of any Peeler crab. Reports from the beach this weekend, suggest I might not need Peeler. Fishing Tails photographer Gavin managed an 8lb Hound on Black Lug and Bill Morris, the distributor for Trabucco rods in the UK, decided to put a pesky Spider crab that he caught, to good use. After cutting it up into bite sized chunks and securing it on with some bait elastic. He decided to go light with one of the Trabucco Athena rods rated at 160g. Using only 90g of lead and .22mm line, he was able to blast the crab bait out to where the Smoothounds were cruising. The result was a hectic couple of hours with hounds well into double figure in weight. Amazing sport and fun on light tackle.

Chesil Beach: calm with lightly coloured water

Portland: calm with lightly coloured water.

Portland harbour: calm and clear water

Weymouth Bay: Calm with clear water

Chesil Beach forecast: After yesterdays blow, the beach will start to settle again. This normally brings in Bass and Rays. At some stage the Mackerel will show, but it is more likely to be towards the end of the week. The tides look good for Plaice fishing at Abbotsbury.

Portland: the island should return to the same good form that it was before the blow, with lots of Wrasse and Pollock .

Portland Harbour: plenty of Wrasse and small Pollock from Ferrybridge and the reefs at Sandsfoot Castle.

Weymouth Bay:As Usual the piers have continued to fish well. Not so the beach at PReston. It may improve with a chance of Ray at night and Dabs and Flounder during the day.

Guiding: The new guiding season is underway once again. Although we can’t keep any Bass at the moment, we can certainly catch them. I am hoping that the winter fishing ban and the new commercial quotas, combined with an increase in the minimum landing size, will make for some great Bass fishing. I specialize in lure fishing and I am offering Fly fishing this year as well. I am still more than happy to go after the multitude of species in this area with bait, whether that is big Wrasse, explosive Smoothound fishing or targeting the tastier fish such as Plaice and Bream. If you want to book a session or find out more information drop me an email at [email protected]

SHARE

2 Responses to "Where are the Mackerel"

lack of mackerel could be due to over fishing by large trawlers out of the north ports that can see the shoals from above and simply let modern tec do the rest under water cameras and net thrusters catch every last one.

have been told that they have moved to colder waters such as iceland where they are now enjoying bumper catches! on the south coast the last 2 years (2014/2015) what were about were tiny and immature? may rot seems to last most of summer now with not very pleasant water, perhaps the whitebait (mackeral staple diet) is either not plentiful or gone elsewhere?